The Lady's Second-Chance Suitor, Scott, Regina [e novels to read online .TXT] 📗

She’d kissed Rebecca on the top of her silky hair. “Going todinner with Lord Peverell does not mean a wedding is coming soon.”

Though it certainly felt that way.

Her mother definitely thought as much. “Be sure to agree withhis opinions,” she advised as they started across the Downs. “Men like that.”

“I suppose it doesn’t matter what I like,” Hester said,leaning back against the squabs with a sigh.

“Of course it matters,” her mother argued. “But it willmatter more after you’re married.”

Once she might have taken the advice. Now she knew better.She had only spent a short time with Jasper before he’d sailed off and beenkilled, but she understood that good marriages were made of give and take,consensus, and action. She would not be shy about telling Rob what she thought,on any subject.

The carriage rocked, and her mother frowned out at thetwilight. “Wind’s coming up.”

Hester could see it too. The leaves she’d noticed onSaturday were flying past. Trees, bare and lonely, whipped back and forthagainst the sky.

Tempting to suggest that they send their regrets, but shewouldn’t last another few days of her mother’s fussing and her own wonderings.

A short distance from Upper Grace across the Downs, theLodge perched atop the headland on the opposite side of Grace-by-the-Sea fromLord Howland’s castle. Nestled among trees, it was a ragged outline against thedarkening sky.

“Not many lamps lit,” her mother commented as the coachrolled to a stop on the drive near the wide front door.

Indeed, most of the windows looked dark, the glassflickering as it reflected the torches near the front. Hester fought a shiver.

Ike Bascom, in the grey livery of the local employmentagency, came out to help them alight. He offered Hester a grin before schoolinghis face and leading them toward the front door, even as the coach rumbled offinto the twilight.

“Going to fetch the other guests,” Ike said as if he’d seenHester’s look.

She glanced to her mother. “Then the Peverells are simplyentertaining tonight.”

Her mother lifted her chin. “So he can make a declaration inpublic, no doubt.”

With a shake of her head, she stepped through the door Ikeheld open and into elegance.

The dark-wood paneling of the entry hall had been polished tosuch a high sheen she could see the ghost of her reflection as she moved deeperinto the space. The coffered ceiling arched away above her. Was that copperbetween the beams? At the back of the hall, carved wood stairs led up and downinto destinies unknown. The scents of lemon and lavender floated on the air.

Rob stepped from a room on the left. He’d dressed for theoccasion, in a black tailcoat with velvet lapels, a white waistcoat patternedin lilies, and breeches buckled at his knees in gold. She was heartily glad hermother had insisted on wearing their finest. They hadn’t had time for newgowns, but they had retrimmed the dress from Rosemary’s wedding with lace andbraid, and she thought she looked rather well in it.

The glow in Rob’s eyes said as much.

“Mrs. Denby, Hester, welcome,” he said, inclining his headso that the lamplight caught in his hair. “Would you care to join me andElizabeth while we wait for the rest of our guests?”

He held out an arm to each of them, and her mother acceptedhis left with Hester on his right. Rob escorted them through a doorway that ledinto a gallery. They passed paintings of stern-faced gentlemen and sereneladies with hair and clothing of long ago before entering a withdrawing roomwith walls the color of persimmons. Gilt-edged panels framed paintings ofhunting dogs, horses, and landscapes of the Downs.

Elizabeth, gowned in grey, was perched on a sofa with goldtassels along the edges. She patted the seat beside her. “Hester, dear, comesit with me. Mrs. Denby, I know you will favor the chair just there. I’mdelighted you could join us.”

Hester went to sit, glad for her mother at her elbow on asatin-striped chair with lions leering from the arms. “I understand you areexpecting others.”

“Yes,” Elizabeth said brightly. “Lord Featherstone and Mr.Donner from the spa will be dining with us this evening.”

“Even numbers,” her mother muttered.

Hester knew the custom, though she had never felt bound by it.Then again, any special dinners at their house were generally reserved forfamily.

“Have you visited the Lodge before, Mrs. Denby?” Elizabethasked as Rob leaned against the white marble hearth. Hester fought to keep hergaze on their hostess.

“I haven’t had the opportunity,” her mother admitted. “Itseems grander than I expected.”

“That’s because we are showing you our finest tonight,”Elizabeth assured her. She turned to her brother. “We have time. Why don’t wegive Hester and her mother a more thorough tour?”

Rob eyed his sister. “Are you certain? The whole place issomething of a maze, and we’ve only opened a handful of rooms for our stay thistime.”

That sounded far too cautious for him. It was almost as ifhe thought his home wasn’t good enough for her.

“I wouldn’t mind a tour,” Hester put in.

Rob opened his mouth as if to protest further, but Elizabethjumped in. “Excellent. I’ll just wait here for the other guests. I’m sure youcan manage, Brother.”

Rob closed his mouth as if resigned and straightened awayfrom the hearth. Hester rose, but her mother leaned back in her chair.

“Why, I would never be so unkind as to leave you, MissPeverell. You go ahead, Hester.”

“Colluding,” Rob murmured as he moved to join Hester.

With a frown to her mother, she took his arm and let himlead her from the room.

“Do you not tire of the manipulations?” she asked as theyventured back down the long gallery.

“When it affords me a moment alone with you?” Rob asked. “Certainlynot. I should thank your mother.”

Hester glanced back and spotted her mother and his sistercraning their necks to watch. Catching her gaze, they quickly busied themselvesin conversation.

“It is only a tour,” Hester said, returning her gaze to Rob.“Perhaps you could start by explaining more about these fine ladies andgentlemen on the wall.”

He stopped in front of a painting of a woman sitting in ahigh-backed chair, surrounded by three children of various ages. The lady’shair was the